2008 Road King power
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6
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From: Coquille, OR
2008 Road King power
Greetings, all.
I bought my '08 Road King 4 years ago after the demise of my FXR while on a cross-country road trip. The bike had 32K on it, it now has 120K.
Obviously, overall I love the bike. But its engine is getting long in the tooth, and I'm thinking a little pre-emptive work now might save me the trauma of the FXR's experience of dying The Death while on the road.
1. I weigh a solid 275lbs, and travel with a lot of camera gear (photos.themightyviking.com, if you're interested)
2. On hills, and at the moment of passing a car, the bike seems a bit sluggish and weak.
3. I want to be able to mount up a sidecar for my disabled son and toddle the local roads.
4. I plan to install a Baker kit in the transmission
5. My bike already has the stage one chip, and air intake.
6. I plan to get a Kuriakyn Hypercharger intake, and am already running Bassani true dual exhaust.
7. I'm hearing some new noises recently that I don't know enough to identify. when I get off the throttle, after a moment's delay the engine sheds a couple-second long sound that is similar to a cookie sheet full of washers being shaken.
As near as I can tell, aside from the stage 1 intake and chip, I have a stock 96ci. My intention is to take a hard look at cams and lifters. I don't mind a rough idle if it will help me for my usage, the main thing is I want to boost power from the inside out so I don't have to struggle on hills (I spend a decent amount of time in some tall mountain ranges with long grades) or with passing going from 5th gear to 6th, starting at 65-70 and accelerating.
I'd like to be able to learn enough to do most of the work myself, and to speak intelligently to a mechanic/tuner if I wind up needing one.
With all this in mind, what cam/lifter modifications come to mind? Is there anything else I can do that I'm not thinking of, as I start the tuning process?
I bought my '08 Road King 4 years ago after the demise of my FXR while on a cross-country road trip. The bike had 32K on it, it now has 120K.
Obviously, overall I love the bike. But its engine is getting long in the tooth, and I'm thinking a little pre-emptive work now might save me the trauma of the FXR's experience of dying The Death while on the road.
1. I weigh a solid 275lbs, and travel with a lot of camera gear (photos.themightyviking.com, if you're interested)
2. On hills, and at the moment of passing a car, the bike seems a bit sluggish and weak.
3. I want to be able to mount up a sidecar for my disabled son and toddle the local roads.
4. I plan to install a Baker kit in the transmission
5. My bike already has the stage one chip, and air intake.
6. I plan to get a Kuriakyn Hypercharger intake, and am already running Bassani true dual exhaust.
7. I'm hearing some new noises recently that I don't know enough to identify. when I get off the throttle, after a moment's delay the engine sheds a couple-second long sound that is similar to a cookie sheet full of washers being shaken.
As near as I can tell, aside from the stage 1 intake and chip, I have a stock 96ci. My intention is to take a hard look at cams and lifters. I don't mind a rough idle if it will help me for my usage, the main thing is I want to boost power from the inside out so I don't have to struggle on hills (I spend a decent amount of time in some tall mountain ranges with long grades) or with passing going from 5th gear to 6th, starting at 65-70 and accelerating.
I'd like to be able to learn enough to do most of the work myself, and to speak intelligently to a mechanic/tuner if I wind up needing one.
With all this in mind, what cam/lifter modifications come to mind? Is there anything else I can do that I'm not thinking of, as I start the tuning process?
Last edited by groesener; Jun 24, 2015 at 02:10 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
Greetings, all.
I bought my '08 Road King 4 years ago after the demise of my FXR while on a cross-country road trip. The bike had 32K on it, it now has 120K.
Obviously, overall I love the bike. But its engine is getting long in the tooth, and I'm thinking a little pre-emptive work now might save me the trauma of the FXR's experience of dying The Death while on the road.
1. I weigh a solid 275lbs, and travel with a lot of camera gear (photos.themightyviking.com, if you're interested)
2. On hills, and at the moment of passing a car, the bike seems a bit sluggish and weak.
3. I want to be able to mount up a sidecar for my disabled son and toddle the local roads.
4. I plan to install a Baker kit in the transmission
5. My bike already has the stage one chip, and air intake.
6. I plan to get a Kuriakyn Hypercharger intake, and am already running Bassani true dual exhaust.
7. I'm hearing some new noises recently that I don't know enough to identify. when I get off the throttle, after a moment's delay the engine sheds a couple-second long sound that is similar to a cookie sheet full of washers being shaken.
As near as I can tell, aside from the stage 1 intake and chip, I have a stock 96ci. My intention is to take a hard look at cams and lifters. I don't mind a rough idle if it will help me for my usage, the main thing is I want to boost power from the inside out so I don't have to struggle on hills (I spend a decent amount of time in some tall mountain ranges with long grades) or with passing going from 5th gear to 6th, starting at 65-70 and accelerating.
I'd like to be able to learn enough to do most of the work myself, and to speak intelligently to a mechanic/tuner if I wind up needing one.
With all this in mind, what cam/lifter modifications come to mind? Is there anything else I can do that I'm not thinking of, as I start the tuning process?
I bought my '08 Road King 4 years ago after the demise of my FXR while on a cross-country road trip. The bike had 32K on it, it now has 120K.
Obviously, overall I love the bike. But its engine is getting long in the tooth, and I'm thinking a little pre-emptive work now might save me the trauma of the FXR's experience of dying The Death while on the road.
1. I weigh a solid 275lbs, and travel with a lot of camera gear (photos.themightyviking.com, if you're interested)
2. On hills, and at the moment of passing a car, the bike seems a bit sluggish and weak.
3. I want to be able to mount up a sidecar for my disabled son and toddle the local roads.
4. I plan to install a Baker kit in the transmission
5. My bike already has the stage one chip, and air intake.
6. I plan to get a Kuriakyn Hypercharger intake, and am already running Bassani true dual exhaust.
7. I'm hearing some new noises recently that I don't know enough to identify. when I get off the throttle, after a moment's delay the engine sheds a couple-second long sound that is similar to a cookie sheet full of washers being shaken.
As near as I can tell, aside from the stage 1 intake and chip, I have a stock 96ci. My intention is to take a hard look at cams and lifters. I don't mind a rough idle if it will help me for my usage, the main thing is I want to boost power from the inside out so I don't have to struggle on hills (I spend a decent amount of time in some tall mountain ranges with long grades) or with passing going from 5th gear to 6th, starting at 65-70 and accelerating.
I'd like to be able to learn enough to do most of the work myself, and to speak intelligently to a mechanic/tuner if I wind up needing one.
With all this in mind, what cam/lifter modifications come to mind? Is there anything else I can do that I'm not thinking of, as I start the tuning process?
Andrews 57 cams
S&S lifters/pushrods
Our Stage I Heads
Bore/port t/body to 50 mm
Easy bolt togather process, as we have all the homework done for you
Tune it and smile.
Scott
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: connecticut usa
IMO i would forget about a six speed. if you are having problems passing or going up hills in 5th gear then going to 6th gear will make the problem worst.
The higher the gear ratio and the lower the rpms the less power you will make. i would suggest that you bore out the cylinder to a 103 or even a 107. this is the cheapest power you can get, more displacement. If you want even more then i would do the heads and a better cam. there are plenty of questions to ask before you get started on this project. i can help.
thanks dsv
The higher the gear ratio and the lower the rpms the less power you will make. i would suggest that you bore out the cylinder to a 103 or even a 107. this is the cheapest power you can get, more displacement. If you want even more then i would do the heads and a better cam. there are plenty of questions to ask before you get started on this project. i can help.
thanks dsv
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Coquille, OR
Filtrod: Does that S&S retain the fuel injection, or is it carbureted? 127? Seriously? Good god... How does it do in gas mileage?
Hillsidecyclecom: 107"? Dang, way to turn my six-shooter into an elephant gun!
hadn't really thought about anything but cam and other minor non-machining changes. Going bigger does sound fun though.
Hillsidecyclecom: 107"? Dang, way to turn my six-shooter into an elephant gun!
hadn't really thought about anything but cam and other minor non-machining changes. Going bigger does sound fun though.
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
No big gun, or hot-rod whatsoever, just a big broad torque curve that comes on early, and carrys.
Plug/play cam-only set up?
Andrews 48's.
Scott
Plug/play cam-only set up?
Andrews 48's.
Scott
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6
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From: Coquille, OR
I see the TW48 listed at JP Cycle. That one? I'm a little out of range of Munnsville NY, sadly, being in Oregon. Otherwise would love to sit on a stump and look this over with you. Thanks.
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